Fresh bomb attacks, threats hit cities across the country

Fresh bomb attacks, threats hit cities across the country

The Jakarta Post, Medan/Palangkaraya/Jakarta

The new year is just one week old but the National Police have
been dealing with terror threats after a bomb exploded and
another was discovered in the North Sumatra capital, Medan, in a
12-hour spell.

The police are also investigating the disappearance of 5,796
electric detonators from a warehouse belonging to a stone
quarrying company in the Central Kalimantan capital,
Palangkaraya.

The bomb attack occurred in Medan on Monday night, the second
blast to rock the country in less than a week, but no life was
claimed as it hit an empty house in Amplas, near a bus terminal
on Jl. Sisingamangaraja,

A bomb exploded during a music concert on New Year's Eve in
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, killing 10 people, including the
perpetrator. Police claim to have evidence that Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) rebels, waging a guerrilla war in the neighboring
province, were behind the deadly attack.

Police discovered another bomb at the crowded Pasar Pagi
market on Jl. Abdul Rachman Hakim at around 10:30 a.m., one-and-a
half hours before it was due to explode. The timer of the low
explosive was set at 12 noon.

At about the same time, a bomb threat was received by people
working in Medan industrial estate on Jl. Yos Sudarso. The police
bomb squad searched the area but found no bomb.

Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Bagus Kurniawan said the bomb
that exploded in Amplas and the one found in Pasar Pagi were
identical. He said that the two bombs were equipped with timers,
used wet batteries and were placed inside a 25-centimeter-long
pipe.

"We have questioned 12 witnesses in the bomb blast and five in
the bomb threat. We hope we can find the party responsible for
the incidents," said Bagus.

He said that the motive behind the incidents was simply to
frighten the public.

Another police officer shared the same opinion regarding the
incidents.

"Our initial investigation indicated that the acts of terror
used the same modus operandi. We conclude that these threats were
perpetrated by the same group," said North Sumatra Police chief
of detectives Sr. Comr. Satria Hari Prasetya.

Meanwhile, Central Kalimantan Governor Asmawi A Gani said on
Tuesday that three parties should be blamed for the disappearance
of the electric detonators.

"(They are) the company that owns the detonators, the company
security unit and the police. Or, possibly only one of them,"
said Asmawi.

The loss of the detonators, belonging to Palangkaraya-based
mining company PT Hansur Jaya Utama, has been a cause for concern
because the explosives could be smuggled outside Central
Kalimantan province and be used nationwide in terror bombings.

"The Central Kalimantan Police chief has tightened security at
the borders with other provinces so that the detonators can't be
smuggled across the province or across the country," said
National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko.

He added that the Central Kalimantan police chief had informed
all other provincial police chiefs to be alert to the smuggling.

Soenarko added that the police had begun investigating the
case.

"We shall find out who is responsible. We are now
investigating the people from the company as well as the police
personnel in charge," he said.

The Central Kalimantan police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr.
Husni Rifai said that a team from Jakarta headquarters had been
sent to investigate the case.

"There are six members in the team and they are headed by a
one-star general. They are focusing themselves on investigating
the company and police personnel," said Husni.